INFINITI QX30

America’s insatiable appetite for crossovers hasn’t been lost on manufacturers, including luxury brands such as Infiniti. The Infiniti QX30 is the latest model from Nissan’s luxury brand, a compact crossover with a strong hatchback vibe.

Introduced in 2017, the QX30 is based on the Mercedes-Benz A-segment platform, the same architecture supporting the GLA250. The partnership between the two luxury marques launched in 2010, with the current-generation GLA arriving five years later. The exterior styling, cabin design and the powertrains are unique to Infiniti. The suspension is sport-tuned for the QX30 and the infotainment system, while resembling the Benz’ COMAND unit, has a definitive Infiniti edge.

One year removed from its debut, the 2018 QX30 is unchanged. Prices held firm too.

My test model was the Sport, the top of the line front-wheel drive model. Infiniti added radiant illuminated kick plates ($465); a Sport Technology Package with blind spot warning, lane departure warning, forward emergency braking, high beam assist, and intelligent cruise control ($1,200); a Sport LED Package with LED headlamps, adaptive front lighting, and LED ambient lighting ($1,000); and a Sport Leather Package with Nappa leather seats, suede-like headliner, and heated front seats ($1,500). All told, my final price came to $43,660 and that’s a few thousand dollars more than the top-end GLA.

Exterior Highlights

True to their agreement, the Infiniti QX30 and Mercedes-Benz GLA put forth their own designs. There is no confusing these two models.

The QX30 has familiar Infiniti design elements such as the brand’s signature gaping grille and hawk eye LED light treatments. Front to back there is much body sculpting and character lines present as well as a rising belt line and now ubiquitous zig-zag roof. From the rear, the hatch feel of this model is evident with a liftgate spoiler, wraparound tail lamps, and available diffuser-like trim with dual exhaust ports. This model has rear fog lights; front fog lamps are available.

Standard exterior features include halogen headlights, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, an aluminum hood, power-folding and heated side mirrors, and dual chrome exhaust finishers. Available features include LED headlights, an active front lighting system, and roof rails.

The QX30 comes with 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels wrapped in all-season tires. You can also choose 19-inch wheels set within summer tires.

Overall, the exterior look is sporty with lighting, body sculpture and chrome embellishments giving the QX30 a premium persona.

Interior Overview

The 2018 QX0 offers room for five, but four is ideal. Even then, if you have tall passengers sitting in the rear seat, things tend to get a bit cozy back there. Standard storage space measures 19.2 cubic feet; fold the rear seat and you’ll more than double that capacity.

Infiniti’s touch is all over the interior, with cloth, imitation or fine leathers, suede, and available dark wood available, providing luxury touches. The fit and finish are first-rate, the front seats are very comfortable, and the cabin is quiet — for the most part. Yes, highway noise seeps in through the front windows, but otherwise the cabin offers the solitude expected.

You need to move away from the base model to enjoy the many amenities this model offers, including power front seats, heated seats, aluminum kick plates and pedal finishers, and rear reading lights.

In all, I see the QX30 as an ideal model for people first entering the luxury sphere, although that means a crossover, not a sedan. But then this crossover has the utility customers prefer, something no sedan offers.

Safety Features and Rating

You won’t find safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) yet on the QX30. Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has yet to conduct its own tests.

Beyond the usual suite of airbags, Infiniti also has knee airbags for the driver and front passenger. Blind spot warning, lane departure warning and forward emergency braking are available. A rearview camera is standard. Opt for the Technology Package and you’ll find intelligent park assist, a system that utilizes 12 sensors to determine if a parking spot is the right size. If it is, the QX30 can park itself.

Top Technologies

All 2018 QX30 models come with a 6-speaker audio system with two USB ports, an auxiliary jack, CD player, satellite radio, and HD Radio. Bluetooth connectivity is also standard.

Upgrades include a 10-speaker Bose audio system and Infiniti InTouch with navigation. The InTouch package brings in a 7-inch touchscreen display with traffic reports and related apps. The navigation system worked without drama, bringing us from point to point with accuracy.

On the Road: 2018 Infiniti QX30

Infiniti provides just one powertrain combination with the 2018 QX30: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Working alongside this engine is a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

I’ve driven other Infiniti models with this engine and found it wanting. The reason has everything thing to do with size and weight. In the QX30, the engine is spot on.

As fortune would have it, the QX30 arrived the day before I needed to take my son and another player to a soccer game near Wilmington, NC, a 254-mile round trip excursion on a Friday afternoon. Turns out the journey offered a fantastic opportunity to gauge how the QX30 drove, rode, and handled.

And I wasn’t disappointed by the experience. As expected, the QX30 moves away from a dead stop cleanly. Floor the accelerator and after a brief pause, turbo power is at the ready. From a fuel economy standpoint, I made the mistake of not going with Eco mode. But Sport mode unleashes this small crossover in a way that’s wholly satisfying — potent power and a surprisingly comfortable ride for such a small vehicle. Weighty steering and crisp handling are two more attributes that make this driver worth considering.

Fuel economy comes in at 24/33 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive, but just 21/30 for all-wheel drive.

Parting Thoughts: 2018 Infiniti QX30

With the QX30 in its lineup, Infiniti offers first-time luxury shoppers a compelling reason to consider the brand. Prices can zoom up very quickly once you move past the base model. Start at the Luxury trim and you’ll get a fairly well-equipped model for about $33,000. That said, if you want amenities such as navigation and driver-assist features, these come as package options available at the Premium level. Choose the packages and your final price tops $41,000 and that’s $11,000 more than the base price.

Besides the GLA, competing models include the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and the Lexus NX200t. If you’re looking for a sedan, the compact Q50 begins about $35,000.

The Los Angeles Auto Show opens in about a month, the first of four huge auto shows on tap in North America for the 2015-2016 show season.

The show’s timing — just before Thanksgiving — and the California location of the venue, provide an ideal setting for car manufacturers to unveil their latest offerings and concept vehicles.

Infiniti QX30 Concept.

2015 LA Auto Show

At least 50 debuts will take place in Los Angeles, including global debuts from Ford, Porsche, Scion, and Land Rover. Several manufacturers will also provide North American debuts, meaning these models have already appeared elsewhere in the world.

The LA Auto Show typically features vehicles that meet the so-called “green” criteria, including numerous alternate-fuel models. That doesn’t mean SUVs, sports cars and other less-efficient models are not showcased. It does mean that the venue serves as an ideal backdrop for presenting the annual “Green Car of the Year” award from Green Car Journal.

Among the manufacturer big reveals set for next month include the following:

Nissan Sentra — The compact segment is led by the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic, with models such as the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze, and the Hyundai Elantra also making an impact. The Nissan Sentra is yet another model, with the current generation model introduced in 2013. That means a mid cycle refresh is due and it should be a significant one. Nissan is gaining market share and has been doing so by refreshing or replacing its core products at a rapid pace. No particulars have been shared about the new model, but its look should align it closely to the refreshed-for-2016 Nissan Altima.

Buick LaCrosse — GM’s premium brand is gaining new product, including the Opel-suppled Cascada convertible. Moreover, the flagship LaCrosse will be all new for 2017 when it goes on sale next year. Buick has selected Los Angeles as the venue to introduce a model that we already know will take its styling cues from the delicious Avenir concept. Just how far Buick goes with porting those design features isn’t yet known. Nor do we know what technologies and trims will accompany the new model.

Mitsubishi Duo — The smallest of all Japanese automakers with a presence left in the United States is Mitsubishi. Its sales are up significantly this year after multiple year-over-year declines. That doesn’t mean Mitsubishi’s road ahead is assured. Indeed, the automaker’s survival is tenuous at best. Nevertheless, Mitsubishi will reveal two models in LA — an all-new Outlander Sport crossover and a refreshed Mirage, the latter its subcompact model. Mitsubishi is coming off of a refresh of its compact Lancer minus its Evo and Ralliart editions, which have been discontinued.

Infiniti QX30 — Infiniti with the help of Mercedes-Benz, is exploring the bottom of the luxury segment with both a Q30 hatchback and an QX30 utility vehicle. The SUV will be introduced next month and should give further clarity on what Nissan’s luxury brand has in store for us from 2017 on.

Scion Concept SUV — About a year ago, it appeared that Toyota would kill its youth-oriented Scion division. Instead, Toyota killed the iQ and xB models and brought to the market two new models: the iA sedan and the iM hatchback. Yet another model will make its debut in California, reportedly a small crossover based on the C-HR concept. So, instead of an SUV slotting beneath the Toyota RAV4, the mono spec model will wear a Scion badge.

Los Angeles Debuts

Among the other debuts that have come to the attention of Auto Trends include the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Jaguar’s F-PACE SUV, and the updated Kia Sportage. Other manufacturers such as Ford, Volkswagen, and Mazda will showcase new models too, but that information has yet to be revealed. Lastly, Elio Motors is expected to follow its New York auto show debut last April with an appearance in Los Angeles. Three-wheeled conveyance, anyone?